Crutch.



W. GREGSON.

CRUTCH.

.APPLlCATlON FILED AUG-22. 1914.

1,1 83,726. I Patented May 16, 1916.

citizen of the United States,

WILLIAM GREGSON, =01? FORT WORTH, TEXAS, ASSIGNOROF FORTY-NINE.ONE-HUN- DREDTHS TO- CHARLES FERGUSON, F FORT WOBTH, TEXAS.

CRUTCH.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916..

Application filed August 22, 1914. Serial No. 858,035.

To all whom it may co'nce'm:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Gnnoson, v residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful" Improvements in 'Crutches, of

v which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crutches.

It is one aim of the present invention to provide a crutch having a novel form of cushioned arm rest adapted to render the crutch more comfortable to the user. More specifically, the invention aims to provide a crutch having its arm rest provided with a pneumatic cushion and to provide means whereby the cushion may be readily inflated to the desired degree so as to render it more or less firm. It is another aim of the invention'to provide a crutch capable of adjustment as regards its length. so as to permit of its being adapted for use by different persons and to further avoid the necessity of making crutches in various lengths which, of course, necessitates the carryingof a large stock.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision in connection with a crutch of a grip formed from material which is more or less absorbent, so that the hand will not be liable to slip oil" from the grip while the crutch is being used.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a crutch having a leg rest vertically adjustable thereon, whereby to. adapt the crutch for use by a one-legged man. In this connection, the invention also contemplates so mounting the leg rest that it may be readily detached to su1t the convenience of the user of the crutch.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in'section, illustrating the crutch embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 isa vertical transverse sectional view through the crutch, parts being,

broken away. a

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views ofthe accompanying drawings by the same reference characters. In the drawings, the staii' of the crutch is illustrated as comprising an upper section and, a lower section; The upper section of the staff comprises spaced members 1 and an arm rest 2, which will presently be more specifically described. Thefmembers 1 of any suitable means,

the upper section throughout their lower portions are located in parallel planes and these portions are indicated by the numeral 3 and are connected in spaced relation by as for example, spacing The lower section of the shown as in the form of which has its upper porrectangular in cross section and disposed between the lower ends of the portions 3. The'said upper end portion of the lower section 5 is formed with a series of transversely extending openings 6 and through-these openings and the openings formed in the portions 3 of the upper section are secured bolts 7, the bolts being lnterchangeably fitted through the openings Gas will be readily understood whereby to permit of the lengthening or shortening of the crutch, it being preferable that the openings be equidistantly spaced so that the'bolts 7 may be engaged selectively through any pair of the openings. The standard 5 or lower section of the staff is provided with the usual tip 8. The upper portions of the spaced'members 1 of the upper section of the staff diverge in an upward direction as shown in Fig. 1, and support between them upon a transverse bolt or pin 9, a hand grip 10 which is preferably of cork although any other suitable material may be employed. The spaced members 1 and their portions 3 may be formed from any, suitable material and of any desired cross section.

The connecting arm rest 2 is preferably rigid and may be integral with the upper ends .'of the spaced portions 1 or secured thereto in any suitable manner and the upbolts or rivets 4. crutch staff is here a solid standard 5 tion substantially per. surface of the said arm rest is curved from end to end substantially as shown in Fig. 1. A similarly curved channel member 11 is secured on this member, being shown clearly in cross section in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The arm rest includes in its structure, a pneumatic cushion 12 which is preferably although not necessaril of the cross sectional form shown in ig. 2, and which is also preferably of such contour as to conform to the curvature of the rigid arm piece 2. The pneumatic cushion 12 is provided at its under side with a thickened portion 13 having lateral beads 14 which overhangin 11, the cus ion being in this manner supported and held upon the arm rest 2; The 110' engage in the walls of the channel member numeral 15 indicates a tubular valve casing which is secured through the arm piece 2 and channel member 11 and through the thickened bottom of the cushion l2 and 5 which is in communication with the'interior of the cushion. Any suitable form of check valve (not shown) is located within the easing and serves to prevent escape of air from the cushion when the cushion is inflated.- As a means for inflating the cushion, there is provided a valve 16 having a short flexible tu e '17 attached thereto and either permanently or removably fitted to the neck of the valve casing, and in. the former instance, Will of course be carried about with the crutch and in position for convenient use, or, in the latter instance, it may be carried in ones pocket and connected to the valve casing when it is desired to inflate the cushion. V y

'The leg rest heretofore mentioned'comprises a transversely curved portion 18 which constitutes the supporting portion of the rest, and at one end this portion is proas vided with a hooked extension 19 and a downward extension 20. In applying the leg rest to the crutch stafl, the portion 19 is engaged over one or another of the bolts 4 and the portion 20 will then rest against 80 the bolt or bolts beneath the one engaged. In this manner, the leg rest is removably although securely supported upon the staff and as there are several of the bolts 4, it may be adjusted vertically to suit the convenience of the user of the crutch.

While I have shown what I regard as the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction set forth and it will be obviou that many spaced portions, and a series of transversely extending supports, and a leg support selectively engageable with and adapted to be suspended from the said transverse suports.

2. A crutch having a stafi provided with a series of supports, and a leg support having a hooked portion for engagement interchangeably with the first-mentioned supports,and a portion arranged to rest against the first-mentioned supports.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GREGSON. [L.S.] Witnesses:

E. R. SMiTH, A. J. VELTON. 

